The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, has held a crucial meeting with representatives of N-Power beneficiaries ahead of a planned nationwide protest scheduled for January 22-23. The protest is in response to nine months of unpaid stipends under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, hosted the delegation at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. According to a statement issued by the beneficiaries’ chairman, Muhammad Abubakar, and shared via social media on Friday, January 17, the meeting ended on a “meaningful deliberative note.”
During the meeting, the minister addressed the delayed stipends, attributing the holdup to ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He explained that the ministry’s accounts under the NSIP had been frozen due to alleged corruption during the tenure of previous leadership. However, he assured the delegation that his office, in collaboration with the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), is working to fast-track the investigation and reopen the accounts.
Professor Yilwatda expressed the government’s commitment to resolving the issue and pledged that outstanding payments would be cleared by February 2025. He urged the beneficiaries to remain patient as efforts are made to address the backlog.
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Reacting to the minister’s assurances, Abubakar, who represented the aggrieved beneficiaries, expressed cautious optimism. “We represent thousands of beneficiaries who are deeply concerned about the prolonged delay. While we appreciate the minister’s explanations, we cannot decide to withdraw the planned protest without consulting our colleagues nationwide,” he said.
It is worth noting that the N-Power beneficiaries had previously submitted letters to relevant agencies on January 14, seeking approval for a peaceful protest. They stated that the demonstration was a last resort after multiple failed attempts to engage the government through appeal letters.
The N-Power program, a flagship initiative under the NSIP launched in 2022, was designed to empower unemployed youth through stipends and skill-building opportunities. The delayed payments have caused significant frustration among beneficiaries, prompting calls for transparency and accountability in the management of the program.
As the protest date approaches, all eyes are on the government to see if the promises made during the meeting will be fulfilled and if the grievances of the N-Power beneficiaries will finally be addressed.
